Rail-fastening.



J.GEARON,1R.& EQGEARON.

RAIL FASTENING.

APPLlcATloN FILED JULY 3, 1915.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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JOHN GEARON, JR., AND EDWARD GEARON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-FASTENING.

Application filed July 3, 1915.

` To aZZ whom t may concern:

which will be securely held in place and will firmly hold the rail.

rlhe object stated is attained by means of a novel combination andarrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is an elevationof the device; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, with the rail in section,and Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes an ordinary wooden tieor stringer on which the rail 6 seats. The means for fastening the railto the tie comprises two metal plates 7 located on top of the tie andbeneath the rail base. These plates are mounted on the tie adjacent tothe respective sides thereof, and they are angular to provide dependingend portions 8 seating against the side faces of the tie.

Passing transversely7 through the tie, from one side to the other, is abolt 9, and the de pending parts 8 of the plates 7 engaging the sides ofthe tie have slots 10 to receive the ends of the bolt. The slots 10 runin the direction of the length of the tie, for a purpose to be presentlydescribed. The bolt is secured by a nut 11.

Each tie plate 7 has on one side of the rail base a hole 12 for a spike13, and on the other side a lip 14 which overhangs and engages the topof the rail base on this side. The lip may be formed by slitting theplate adjacent to its inner edge and bending up the edge portion thusseparated from the main body of the plate. If the plate is cast, the lipwill be formed integral therewith. The lips are so arranged that the lipof one plate engages one side of the rail base, and the other side ofthe rail base is engaged by the lip of the other plate. The spike holesof the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28,1915.

Serial No. 37,912.

two plates are so arranged that the spikes 13 are driven on oppositesides of the rail base, the heads of the spikes engaging the edges ofthe base flanges of the rail.

The main portion of each tie plate 7 which seats on top of the tie 5 hasdownturned barbs 15 at its edges, which are driven into the tie. Thedownturned end portions 8 of the plate have inturned barbs 16 which aredriven into the side of the tie.

Between the head of the bolt 9 and the adjacent part 8 of the plate 7 ismounted a clip in the shape of a flat plate 17 having a bolt hole toaccommodate the bolt 9.

At the ends of the clip plate are inturned barbs 18 which pass throughapertures 19 in the part 8 and are driven into the side of the tie 5.These barbs are adjacent to the top and bottom of the part 8, and oneach side, and the apertures are correspondingly located. A series ofapertures is provided for each barb, and they are spaced differentdistances from the slot 10. Thus, when the clip plate is disengaged fromthe part 8, the plate 7 can be shifted in the direction of the length ofthe tie so that the barbs 18 will engage any set of apertures desired.The slot 10 permits this adjustment. It will therefore be seen that theposition of the plate 7 on the tie can be changed as many times as thereare sets of apertures 19, and these changes can be readily made.

A clip plate, similar to the one hereinbefore described, is interposedbetween the nut 11 and the adjacent part 8 of the other tie plate 7.

`When the tie plate 7 is used on a new tie, the entire body of thelatter, with the exception of the bolt and spike holes, is left in itsnatural sound state, thereby assuring it a longer life than when usedwith tie plates of ordinary make, which require from four to siX spikesdriven` into the part of the tie which is subject to the greatest strainand wear. Spiking also starts checking, and thereby makes openings forwater and atmospheric conditions promoting decay. In using the tie plateon an old tie, the latter is compressed in a manner to strengthen it,and the cracks and checks are drawn together, thereby increasing theusefulness and durability of the tie. The tie plate can also be used ontemporary tracks in single form by using a plate on the outside, andspiking the rail on the inside. The plate can also be used in doubleform with or without spikes.

The rail fastening being a part of the tie plate, and the latter beingheld in place by the Weight of the traiic, a perfect nonspreading tieplate is had, making the spreading of the track almost impossible underordinary conditions.

The dimensions of parts can be varied to obtain the best results. Theembedded barbs l5 and 16 secure the tie plate more irmly to the tie andprevent upward bends or buckling.

Light metal can be used in the manufacture of the tie plate on accountof its angular shaped bearing surfaces, and it can be manufacturedeconomically by punching and bending one piece of metal. rlhe plate canalso be cast in molds of very plain inexpensive pattern.

VVe claim 1. A tie plate of angular shape to lit the top and side of thetie, the top of the plate having rail-holding means, a bolt passingthrough the tie and the side portion of the plate, said side portionhaving a longitudinal slot to receive the bolt, and a clip plate carriedby the outer end of the bolt, the side portion of the tie plate havingapertures, and the clip plate having barbs passing 'through theapertures and adapted to be driven into the side of the tie.

2. A tie plate of angular shape to fit the top and side of the tie, thetop of the plate having rail-holding means, a bolt passing through thetie and the side portion of the plate, said side portion having alongitudinal slot to receive the bolt, and a clip plate carried by theouter end of the bolt, the side portion of the tie plate havingapertures, and the clip plate having barbsv passing through theapertures and adapted to kbe driven into the side of the tie, andbarbson the tie plate adapted t0 be driven yinto the tie.

In testimony whereof We afliX our signa- Copies of this patent may beobtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,Washington, D. C.

